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Cui Lab

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Biography

Photo of Dr. Quanjun Cui, UVA Orthopaedics

As a clinician scientist, Dr. Cui’s research has focused on (1) Osteogenesis by Stem cell for treatment of osteonecrosis and bone defect, (2) Pathogenesis and treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), and (3) Outcomes of total hip and knee joint arthroplasty. His research has been funded so far by three NIH, two DOD, and numerous foundation grants. His research team has found that steroids induce adipogenesis by osteoprogenitor cells and stimulate expression of a fat-specific gene while inhibiting osteogenesis by down-regulating osteoblastic gene expression. He has proposed that this may be an important mechanism by which osteonecrosis and osteoporosis develops. The study was published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and won the William Harris Award by the Orthopaedic Research Society. Based on these findings, he studied the effects of lipid-clearing agents on steroid-induced adipogenesis by osteoprogenitor cells and discovered that lovastatin, a lipid-lowering agent, can counteract the effect of steroids on adipogenesis and thereby maintain the osteogenic properties of the cell. Similar findings in an in vivo study with a steroid-treated chicken model for osteonecrosis supported the in vitro data. His paper entitled “Lovastatin Prevents Steroid-Induced Adipogenesis and Osteonecrosis” was selected for the Otto E. Aufranc Award by the American Hip Society. His other work includes studies on a multipotent bone marrow cell, which has been transduced with a traceable gene as a marker as well as with growth factor genes. The results of the study, “The Pathogenesis and Prevention of Steroid-induced Osteonecrosis” received the Nicholas Andry Award from The American Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons and published in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. His recent research activities in this area continued to focus on finding a cure for osteonecrosis. He is working with a team of experts to conduct a multicenter trial which is NIAMS-sponsored RCT (R34 AR073505) to determine if patients with osteonecrosis will benefit from autogenous bone marrow aspiration concentrate to augment core decompression, and investigate the biological mechanisms underlying improvements in outcome.

Working with Dr. Xinlin Yang, Dr. Cui and his collaborators have focused on elucidating the role of Fpr1 in osteoarthritis (OA) over the past decade, yielding promising findings. In a study using a monoiodoacetate-induced rat knee OA model, they identified radioactive Fpr1 signals in the synovial membrane of affected knee joints via positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, employing a copper-64-labeled Fpr1-targeting peptide, cFLFLF, as a tracer. Additionally, their research extended to a rodent model of knee OA induced by surgical anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT). Using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging with a 99mTc-labeled cFLFLF tracer, they successfully detected Fpr1 expression and macrophage involvement in OA. Notably, Fpr1 knockout (KO) mice in the ACLT model exhibited more severe OA progression compared to wild-type (WT) mice. These findings underscore a novel role for Fpr1 in regulating macrophage activation and OA development, potentially via currently unidentified signaling pathways.

As a practicing joint replacement (adult reconstruction) surgeon, Dr. Cui’s clinical research has been focused on outcomes of joint replacement surgery and fracture healing. He hopes to translate cellular and molecular techniques to clinical use so that they can improve treatment outcomes of orthopaedic patients, especially patients with osteonecrosis, osteoarthritis, osteolysis, osteoporosis and non-union fractures.

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Lab

Orthopaedic Research Lab
Room 2323
Aurbach Medical Research Building
50 Ray C. Hunt Dr.
Charlottesville, VA 22903.

Office

2280 Ivy Road
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
Phone: 434-982-4832
Fax: 434-245-2035

Area of Clinical Expertise

  • Total Hip and Knee Replacement (THA, TKA)
  • Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head
  • Navigation and Minimal Invasive Surgery.

Research Interests

  • Outcomes of total joint replacement surgery
  • Stem cell therapy for musculoskeletal diseases
  • Pathogenesis and treatment of osteonecrosis and arthritis.

Clinic Information

UVA Health Orthopaedic Center
2280 Ivy Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: (434) 243-1673

Publications